BBC news has an article about the relative peacefulness of America, “despite” all the guns we have. While the author doesn’t seem to completely get that part of that peacefulness is BECAUSE of the high rate of firearms ownership, it is very interesting to see this look at America from an outside news source (The author, Justin Webb, does say he has been living in the US for six years).
It is a paradox. Along with the guns there is a tranquillity and civility about American life of which most British people can only dream.
Hat tip Arms and the Law
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The article also misses the very pertinent point that the everyday violence that drives our homicide and violent crime rates up so much, occurs almost exclusively in inner cities and amongst gang members.
If you’re not a gang member, drug dealer or other criminal, your chances of being the victim of violent crime here are actually very low…and, as you pointed out, a good part of that is because law abiding citizens are entrusted with the tools of self defense. An armed society is a polite society.